Fire Monsters Against the Son of Hercules (1962)
Starring:
Reg Lewis ... Maciste - U.S. version: Maxus
Margaret Lee ... Moah
Luciano Marin ... Idar son of Dorak
Andrea Aureli ... Fuwan
Rocco Spataro ... Dorak
A another Italian sword and sandal epic originally titled
"Maciste Against the Monster". Embassy Pictures included this among a group of sword and sandal/mythological muscleman epics they put into a U.S. television syndication package called "The Sons of Hercules." The title was changed to "Fire Monsters Against the Son of Hercules." The beginning and ending scores were replaced with a theme song titled "The Sons of Hercules" which was used on all of the films in this syndication package. Some lines of the English dubbed dialog was replaced (using another actor) so that Maxus refers to himself as being a "son of Hercules." After the opening credits, a shot of clouds was inserted and a narrator would explain that the main character in each of the films was a "son of Hercules." This switch up in translation would explain the lack of 'fire monsters' in the actual film, but not exactly the lack of monsters all together! Well, I exaggerate. There were a monster or two but they were less than important to any thing resembling a plot. Just sort of popped up every now and then to make or hero flex a little.
The real plot was the same plot that seems to be in ALL these types of Italian marvels. A group of good villagers (Sun worshipers) gets attacked by a bunch of bad villagers (Moon worshipers) and they steal something important (in this case the women, the hero shows up a to help them and they defeat the bad villagers and get back to women. This one did have the added of twist of not only doing it once, but twice!!!! After the bad guys are defeated they regroup and attack again! Once again Herc..uh, I mean Maciste, no um,...Maxis, yeah that's his name, Maxis help the good guys beat them off and vengeance and justice is served. Oh, and everyone gets the girl!!
Ugh...I really don't even know what else to say about this one. It was SO simple a film! I always get a chuckle at the weapons of choice in these films. It's kind of ridiculous looking really. Everyone runs around with clubs and axes that look like they came of the set of the Flintstones! Large clubs that sort of shine, petrified wood?? Over sized axes of stone that if real would way 50-100 pounds!! These scrawny nomadic villagers sure are stronger than they look!
The opening scene of the good Sun worshiping tribe is pretty amusing. We find them trudging across a glacier seeking a warm nice place to call home. Nothing add about that you say? Well, no except for the fact none of them have more than a fur vest and snappy matching shorts and boots to match! You'd think that one or two would say at some point, "Hey! If I wrap fur around my legs and arms, my flesh would stop turning black and falling off!!"
I'm also amazed at the high level of hairstyling technology that these prehistory human had. I always thought gel and curlers were a later day invention. Who knew?!
Well, this one I give no quarter. Everyone involved should have known better, well except for maybe Reg. He was just a muscle man looking to make a little Lira.
So if you are into loin clothes and hairy chests, or if you are homosexual and like the men, this one has plenty to offer!
